Bless the Lord, O my soul
Today's responsorial psalm contains one of my favorite verses: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me” (Ps 103:1). It’s a verse that I find extremely helpful and uplifting when facing daily circumstances and challenges.
Looking at the first reading and the response from David against King Saul, we might wonder what David was thinking as he faced the challenges from Saul, who was chasing him to kill him. Would he have been praising God, as today’s psalm suggests? Perhaps, because when David found Saul deeply sleeping and had a perfect moment to get rid of his persecutor, he reflected profoundly and decided not to put his hand against the one who was the Lord's anointed. “Do not harm him,” David said, “for who can lay hands on the Lord’s anointed and remain unpunished?”
Not many of us today happen to be anointed as kings or queens. But all of us who are baptized and confirmed have received a sacramental anointing with oil. Anointing with oil is also a part of the Sacrament of the Sick, intended to give us spiritual strength. We are all God's children, so He wants us to resist sin and love one another.
Reflecting on the Gospel and Jesus' command: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you,” we see a profound message against hurting even those who would hurt us. “To the person who strikes you on one cheek,” Jesus says, “offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
How difficult it is to carry out these commands! Yet, consider that Jesus knows it is not easy to do so, and that's why He equips us with grace and with all kinds of tools, such as the sacraments, to make it happen. So, for me praying or singing the psalm: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me," reminds me that I have the strength I need to carry on all my Lord is asking me to do.
–Angie Muller
Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.